Toy collection under way

Saturday

Nov 10, 2012 at 11:13 AMNov 10, 2012 at 11:15 AM

Cynthia Grau

The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program is in full swing for the holiday season and the Livingston County Sheriff’s Police are going above and beyond to bring new toys to children who may otherwise not receive any this Christmas.Livingston County Sheriff Sgt. Chad Gragert, the Toys for Tots representative for the sheriff’s department, said that this is the first year the group has been active in collecting toys.“Being that the sheriff was in the U.S. Marine Corps, I thought it would be something good to bring to the place and I often looked for places to drop off toys and it has kind of gone by the wayside, so I figured why not have one here?” he said.Gragert said that the last pickup date at the sheriff’s department is Dec. 15.Toys must be new and left unwrapped when dropped off at a collection site.“Toys can be dropped off here during business hours. Come to the front window and if it’s after hours, you can go to the corrections side and they will collect the toys,” Gragert said.Sheriff Martin Meredith said that the extra step the officers are taking is a pickup service.“If anyone has toys they want to donate and they can’t get here, let us know and a deputy will come to the residence and pick up the toys. We are here along with the Marine Corps working in conjunction to get all kids a toy for Christmas this year,” Meredith said.Meredith said that Gragert has taken this project on in his personal time, and not only does he work with Toys for Tots, but he is also the Livingston County Special Olympics Coordinator.“He took this project on himself, we didn’t ask him to, and this is what he does as one of your deputies in Livingston County,” Meredith stated.“There are a lot of kids that have rough times and there are people out here that are in need of assistance and this is something people can give back to the community that will stay in the county and that’s what I’m striving for,” Gragert added, saying that all the toys collected in Livingston County will be given to children in the county.The Livingston County Public Safety Complex isn’t the only location to drop toys in the specially designated box. Sheryl Hovel, coordinator for the area Toys for Tots program, provided a current listing of participating businesses hosting a drop off box, with more to come.Those locations include: Fairbury — Doc’s Drugs, Dave’s Supermarket, Dollar General, both Bluestem National Bank locations and Monicals Pizza.Forrest — Bluestem National Bank and the Forrest Post Office. Chatsworth — Chatsworth Elementary School, Citizen’s Bank of Chatsworth, Chatsworth Library and Chatsworth Hardware.Paxton — IGA, Ford County Courthouse and Family Dollar.Gibson City — Dollar General, Busey Bank, NAPA auto parts and McDonald’s. Roberts — Gas Depot.Pontiac — Livingston County Public Safety Complex, Total E. Clips, Big R, Walgreens, Pizza Hut, Dollar General, Rent-A-Center, Pontiac Daily Leader and Heller Motors.

There will be many chances to be involved, including a special fundraiser at the Pontiac Pizza Hut location from 3 to 7 p.m. Nov. 15. Hovel said that flyers have been placed around all the area communities giving diners a chance to ask that 20 percent of their orders be donated to the Toys for Tots. The customers have to present the fliers at the time of order or delivery.“I’ll be there that day handing fliers out,” Hovel said. “Also, if you call an order in for delivery, just request one and you will still be able to donate.”Just a few days later, a special parade will take place, passing each location that has a donation box.“The First annual Toys for Tots Parade for Ford and Livingston County will be Nov. 18. We will leave the Paxton IGA located at 144 W. Pells St., and end at the Old Gorilla Gun Store, the storefront for the Ford and Livingston County Toys for Tots, located at 414 E. Locust St., Chatsworth. The parade will go from location to location, picking up the toys left for the kids,” Hovel said, adding that this event is rain or shine, registration begins at 9:30 a.m., the group leaves at 11 a.m. and motorcycles, cars and trucks are welcome to participate.Sheriff Meredith said that, in the long run, especially with Veterans Day tomorrow, this is one of the greatest times to thank a vet for all they’ve done.“Without our veterans, we wouldn’t have a free country and we wouldn’t have the U.S. Marine Corps being able to do Toys for Tots, reaching out to our children and even though we’re at a time of war and even though we’re out here trying to protect the freedom of everyone, they still take time to let people know that right here in Livingston County, the U.S. Marine Corps are looking out for us,” he said.For more information, an application or volunteering opportunities, contact Hovel at 309-831-6878.

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